Acetylene generator



Dec. 8, 1931. v BOLEY I 1,835,136

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed Sept. 12, 1928 INVENTORZ (a? C2,,

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Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES ROY A. BOLEY, or KENMORE, NEW voax nssienouf '10 oxwnLn AcErvLENE cou- PANY, A conroim'rrouor. wnsr VIRGINIA AGETYLENE enunnnron Application filed September 1 2 192s. sena1'u eoa5se.

My invention relates to acetylene generators, particularly of the. portable type, and has for one of its objects the provision of means for avoiding the production in a generator of excess pressures of gas, of an explosion, and similar injuries in the event of displacement of the generator from the normal position, as by overturning, etc. 7 V

The use of portable acetylene generators has heretofore been limited by the difficulty of avoiding hazard from excess gas production, and like difficulties, which may occur in the. event that the generator is overturned and the water therein allowed to come into contact with the mass of stored calcium carbide, and from the fragile character and undependable nature of the structures pre b Viously made. Accordingly, for service in the field, such as blowpipe'welding and similar utilization of acetylene, it has become customary to employ bottled acetylene, instead of following the simpler and more convenient method of generating the acetylene directly from carbide, in order to avoid such industrial hazard from the previous designs of generators.

My inventionprovides an acetylene generator having safety means for removing such hazard. It provides a container for water and sludge, and a chamber for the storage of carbide, with means for feeding from the stored carbide to the water. The

chamber is desirably fluid tight at all points 9 V V OCCllI'S'lDtO' 1t: V J r. l

i If; desired, the chamber-8 may be made of such lengthand the funnel S'positioned at except the. feed opening, and its parts are so proportioned and the feed opening so located that in the event the generator is overturned, only negligible and harmless quantities of water can make their way into the mass of stored carbide, and accordingly no danger of explosion or other hazard occurs showing the relationship of -the parts u'nder various conditions of displacement;

In the device of myinvention, I provide a container 1"which;is desirablycyl-indrical in sh ape. The container is'eg'uipped with a stirr1n'g means2 having a handle 3,-aidra in 4,

and filling'means' including a funnel 5 and piping 6.: The containeris provided with a cover 7 adapted to be tightly attached thereto.

Upo'n the under sideofthepo'ver 7 is mounted a carbide chamber S'haVingajfeed cone device 9, actuated by a' spring motorfand governor 11 1 v The filling funnel is so" positioned as to limit' the water level -within the container 1 i to a point well below the middle of the height yr; 'a'ctlng as an overflow; in the event that an excess amount of-wate'r is poured in. The w'ai zerlevel, as 'located by the funnel, is held =atisuch a pointthat the total volume of water which' can be" put gin, is jless than the v'o'lume ofthat portion of the container lying below the "edge 12"of the bottom opening 1 in the chamber 8.;when the: cylinder 1 i is tipped to bring its axis intoia--:hoarizontal position; Under such condltlons an; overturning of the contamerydoes not result in the water level rising toxfsuch a point with respect to the feed cone 9 and edge 12 of the cooperating opening in the'chambei-VS thatw'atercanflow into; the stored carbide-Within the container 8 xThecontainersis fluid tight at all other pointspand accordingly (no leakage of water such a point that the total amount of water which canbeput'iintothe container is less 'water entering. the carbide chamber.

height and diameter of'the container By this means I am enabled to construct an acetylene generator which may be com pletely overturned during the course of usage While containing charges of both carbide and Water, without danger of the generation of excess quantities or excess pressures of acetylene gas therein, or of mechanical injury to its parts.

WVhile I have shown but a single embodiment of the device of my invention it is adapted to still other modifications therefrom Without departure of the spirit thereof and it is desired therefore that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are required by the prior art or indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An acetylene generator comprising a container having a top, a carbide chamber sealed centrally on the top so as to project a substantial distance into the container and provide a space between the exterior of the wall of the carbide chamber and the interior of the Wall of the container, means for feeding carbide into the container through an 7 opening in the chamber, and a. Water overflow on the container situated so as to limit the charge of Water to a volume no greater than the space around the carbide chamber between the top'of the container and said opening.

2. An acetylene generator comprising a container having a top, a carbide chamber sealed on the top so as to project a substantial distance into the container and provide a space between the exterior of the wall of the carbide chamber and the interior of the wall of the container, means for feeding carbide into the container through an opening in the carbide chamber, means for limiting a charge of Water so that its level will be a substantial distance below said opening when the container is in a normal upright position and the volume of Water will be no greater than the space around the carbide chamber between the top of the container and said opening), the emg proportioned to give a space between the water level and said opening Which is no less than that occupied by the limited volume of water when the container is tilted in any position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

- ROY A. BOLEY. 

